It's Enough to Give Me a Migraine

 Visit #1593, Sunday 12 April 26, 6:05-8:30AM, 3.6 miles, 3.0 lbs. of litter.

I'm fortunate enough to have other hikers in Hubbard Park that assist me at times by removing unsightly things on the trails and informing me of issues beyond their abilities such as fallen trees. Their help is priceless. This week I received valuable information from one hiker which guided my hiking decisions for Sunday.

That person told me a rock where I'd previously painted over graffiti, had been graffitied (yes; that's a word!) again.

But that didn't take the cake. Just beyond this rock, they told me I had been slandered by my nemesis and ne'er do well who also lacks spelling and grammar skills.

He's used the wrong form of "your" vs. "you're" before, among other self-embarrassments. "Hugger" seems to be a stumbling block of theirs as well.

As if maintaining the trails isn't enough, I have to be the Grammarian of Hubbard Park too?!

Hiking to today's points of interest I found and removed Foam Sticker #18 of 2026. Note the red paint. I covered that as well. Red paint would become one of the themes of today's hike.

I reached the rock and addressed the heart of the matter with the appropriate color of spray paint.

The fallen, and misspelled tree(s) was/were within eyesight. I can't believe I'm being taunted for volunteer work! It's a cold world out there...

Here they are in mid-removal.

Another fine job completed. Your/You're welcome! 

Then it was on to following this dubious individual's illegal trail to see what I could find. I discovered and covered 13 red trail markers, and this short lived tribute to me!

He also "blessed" this trail with another religious tract. I've counted twelve so far.

Another thing I keep track of is the Cat Graffiti I find and remove. Here is #23 since November 2016.

And another theme of today's hike was socks; I kept finding socks.

I'm fortunate that all this red spray paint, taunting, and trail maintenance doesn't give me any headaches. Otherwise I might have abandoned today's hike and participated in the Miles for Migraine 5k race being held today in Hubbard Park. When I arrived at the park at 6AM they were already setting up for the event.

Instead, I ease my pains by enjoying the views.

 

My Easter Egg Hunt

 

I knew where the eggs were hidden.

Visit #1592, Saturday 4 April 26, 7:20-9:55AM, 4.3 miles, 6.2 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the 50s, sunny and comfortable.

I was quite surprised at the number of people I encountered on the trails, particularly since it was early morning.

This week I was on the hunt to correct things I found but was not equipped to address last week.

Stickers keep appearing on this particular guardrail as well as on nearby fence posts. I removed them again this week, and I'm trying a secret method to thwart future stickers, which I can't divulge. Of course I removed these this week and we'll keep an eye on our progress.

Then it was on to this illegally built trail. Trail markers get painted; I remove them. I also find unsightly junk hung on the trees which I remove as well.

On this day I covered 13 such trail markers.

Yet another religious tract. That's how I know the same person marking the trail is leaving the tracts.

Borrowing a currently popular phrase, I call it Tract Derangement Syndrome.

I was also on the hunt for the ubiquitous foam stickers. This week were Entries 17 - 20 of 2026.

While the sticker adhesive is aggressive, so am I in removing it, and the sticker.

I predicted the new metal guardrail on the road to Castle Craig would be attractive to graffiti vandals. This week I found and removed the first tag.

While climbing the trail up to Castle Craig last week I found this graffiti on a rock. This week I tried my wire brush on it but wasn't satisfied with the results. I expected this. It was another reason why I carried spray paint this week. I may have to return with a better color match.

I returned to the park with a full Easter basket. See if you can tell what's different in this photo versus

similar photos in previous posts. I'll give you the answer in the upcoming weeks.

Springtime And Back On The Trail

 Various diversions, including a snowy winter, kept me from having a proper hike in Hubbard Park. That is, until this week.

Visit #1591, Saturday 28 March 26, 8:45-11:25AM, 4.8 miles, 3.8 lbs. of litter (not including the chair.

Temps in the upper 30s with a cold wind from the north.

As you'll read shortly, I rode my bike to Hubbard Park a couple times this week which I didn't add to my tally.

Enroute to the park one of those days, I passed a parked pickup truck with a bumper sticker that said:

No Air Bags

We Die Like Real Men

I thought that was funny, sorta related to Hubbard Park, and worth sharing.

Last Thursday I took a mountain bike ride through the trails but due to time constraints and the setting sun I had to abbreviate my route. And good thing I did, because reaching the Halfway House I found a newly fallen tree.

Combined with another fallen tree I discovered back when there was snow on the ground, I felt it worthwhile to lug the chainsaw with me this weekend.

Hiking to the trail on Saturday morning, I found this quasi-puff jacket stuffed under a log. It's in serviceable condition and it's washed and drying already. I'll take it to Goodwill next week.

And here's the fallen tree by the Halfway House.

I hiked up to Castle Craig and followed a trail down to the second, and last, fallen tree.

Back on the road around Merimere Reservoir, I encountered more activity than on the trails.

Here's Cat Graffiti #s 19, 20, and 21, since November 2016. I removed all of them.

You can see my magic potion working on one of the three.

And the final result on all three.

Returning to the park to drop off my bag of litter, I picked up this abandoned camp chair.

But there was some unfinished work from Thursday's bike ride so I rode to Hubbard Park again on Sunday.

The birch tree on the trail leading to the walkbridge over I-691 continues to see someone persistently defile it. I covered over the red paint with flat black.

I found and removed yet more stickers from these popular fence posts at the I-691 walkbridge. Since I was on my bike I didn't have the tools with me to do a more thorough job.

I removed foam sticker #s 14 and 15 of 2026. I will not tally up those I've found in prior years but will begin a total this year.

Lastly,  I found and removed one more cat graffiti, #22 since November 2016.